St. Clair's Falls is Sri Lanka's "Little Niagara," a broad twin cascade through tea plantations, visible from both road and rail, now fighting to keep its flow against a hydropower project.

Why visit St. Clair's Falls

• "Little Niagara of Sri Lanka": St. Clair's Falls is widely known as the "Little Niagara" because it is one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, offering a magnificent and broad cascade of water.
• Visible from Road and Rail: Travelers can easily see the falls from the Hatton-Talawakele Highway and even from passing trains on the Kandy-Badulla railway line, providing convenient viewing opportunities.
• Runs Through a Tea Estate: The waterfall flows through the scenic St. Clair Tea Estate, which also gives the falls its name, creating a picturesque setting amidst lush tea plantations.
• Comprises Two Falls: St. Clair's actually consists of two distinct waterfalls, "Maha Ella" (the Greater Fall) and "Kuda Ella" (the Lesser Fall), cascading over separate rock outcrops into a large pool.
• Affected by Hydropower Project: Unfortunately, the Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project has significantly reduced the water flow, despite government efforts to maintain a daily release of water.